The family of a Kaitaia man stabbed by a neighbour has slammed the killer's sentence of five years and nine months in jail as "too light".
Paul Edward Harris, 51, stabbed Joseph Rowland Keogh and left him to die like a "stuck pig", Keogh's family said at yesterday's sentencing at Whangarei High Court. The family hurled a stream of expletives at Harris during the proceedings.
Midway through his jury trial for murder last month Harris pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of manslaughter, which carries a maximum term of life in prison.
Keogh, 29, was shooting possums with his two sons and two sisters on Fisher-Riley Rd, near Kaitaia, on the evening of April 11 last year, when he was confronted by Harris.
Harris tried to wrestle an air rifle off Keogh then stabbed him through his heart. He then tried to run him over with his quadbike. The knife used in the attack has never been recovered.